1960s
The Three Degrees (aka the Twelve Degrees) were formed around 1963 in Philadelphia. They were discovered by producer and songwriter, Richard Barrett. Barrett was responsible for groups of the 1950s such as The Chantels, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and The Valentines. Barrett recorded the original lineup on their first song, "Gee Baby (I'm Sorry)", for Swan Records. Turner and Porter both left the group and were replaced by Helen Scott and a string of other ladies, before Janet Harmon joined in the mid-1960s. Barrett also began managing and producing Sheila Ferguson who was a high school friend of Scott. Barrett also signed Ferguson to Swan Records in 1965. The Three Degrees released a number of singles such as "I'm Gonna Need You" and a cover version of "Maybe", with Scott taking the lead vocals.
By 1966, with many performances lined up, Scott decided to leave the group to start a family. Ferguson filled in for Scott and would remain with the group for 20 years. Ferguson sang backup on all the group's Swan recordings as did the Three Degrees for her solo singles. By 1967, Harmon left and was replaced by Valerie Holiday. Barrett signed them to recording contracts over the next three years with Warner Bros., Metromedia, and Neptune record labels; the latter of which was owned by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who would work with the group five years later. Their close harmony made them a popular nightclub act but that hit record still eluded them.
1970s
By 1970, they were signed to Roulette Records and they released their first album, Maybe. The title song took them to #4 on the U.S. R&B charts. Other singles like "I Do Take You" and "You're the Fool" followed, as did their second album, So Much Love. This success landed them a cameo appearance in the 1971 film, The French Connection, filmed during one of their appearances at the Copacabana nightclub in New York, and also an engagement at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada with Engelbert Humperdinck, who was quoted saying that "The Three Degrees are the finest female vocal trio around today."
In 1973, with their contract with Roulette ending, Barrett signed them to Philadelphia International Records under Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, where they were to have their greatest successes. They also made an appearance on the television program, Sanford and Son, singing "I Didn't Know". The first song they recorded there was with the studio band MFSB, entitled TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia), which was the theme song for Soul Train. Altogether, The Three Degrees recorded four albums for that label.
The first album spawned three hits. Dirty Ol' Man went gold in the Netherlands and Belgium. The second single was Year of Decision which made it to the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. Their third single, "When Will I See You Again", was the one that helped the trio break into the mainstream. It topped the UK Chart and sold over two million discs to earn the trio a gold record. The RIAA made the award on 9 December 1974.
The Three Degrees also recorded two live albums: one from Leicester in the UK, and the other from Tokyo, Japan, and both were released in 1975. International, their second studio album on Philadelphia International, was marketed internationally in various languages. In Europe, the album was called With Love, and spawned the hit single Take Good Care of Yourself, which was a Top 10 hit in the UK. There were two songs from that album that were big in Japan: "Midnight Train" and "Nigai Namida", which was recorded in Japanese. In 1976, they parted company with Gamble and Huff and moved to CBS Sony/Epic Records where they released the concept album, A Toast Of Love, purely for the Far East market, although a single of the title track as released all over the world.
In 1976, Pinkney decided to leave the group to return to full-time education, and was replaced by her former band member and great friend Helen Scott. In 1977 they released the album, Standing Up for Love. In 1978, The Three Degrees were signed to Ariola Records in Europe and the U.S. and began working with Giorgio Moroder. Further success was to follow, and they released two albums on Ariola which delivered four UK Top 20 hits: "The Runner", "My Simple Heart", "Giving Up Giving In", and "Woman In Love". They performed at Buckingham Palace for Prince Charles' 30th birthday party, and were guests at his pre-wedding party to Princess Diana. Their own television program was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London, called "The Three Degrees at The Royal Albert Hall", in October 1979.
1980s
Between 1982 and 1985, The Three Degrees released two albums on their own 3D label: Album of Love and Live in the UK. On that label they released one single written by Ferguson, "Liar". They returned to the charts in 1985 with "The Heaven I Need", which was produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman on Supreme Records. A third BBC Television show was also recorded in 1982, entitled Take 3 Degrees, which included performances of their greatest hits, and also songs that the group were performing in their latest show, such as "I Can't Turn You Loose" and "Celebration".
In 1986, Miquel Brown filled in for Scott whilst the latter was expecting. That same year Ferguson decided to leave the group. Scott and Holiday replaced her with Vera Brown in 1986 and then Rhea Harris in 1987. In 1989, Scott and Holiday, along with new recruit Victoria Wallace, recorded an album entitled ... And Holding on Ichiban Records. A single, "A Tender Lie" was also released. Following the album, the group recorded a live CD at London's Dominion Theatre, with Billy Paul and Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes in the summer of 1989. The group followed this with another tour of the UK and Japan at the end of the year.
1990s onwards
In December 1989, Cynthia Garrison replaced Wallace, forming the longest running lineup of the group. In 1993, they were asked to record a new version of "When Will I See You Again" with Thomas Anders (Modern Talking). He supplied three tracks for their album Out the Past Into the Future, marking their return to Ariola Records and their most successful and musically varied album in 15 years.
Scott, Holiday, and Garrison continue to tour. They made their first U.S. TV appearance in over 20 years in 2003 on the PBS show, Rhythm, Love, and Soul with Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls and Mary Wilson. They were also part of the "Best Disco In Town 2004 Tour" with The Pointer Sisters, Chic, The Emotions, and Evelyn "Champagne" King. They also took part in the 2007 "Best Disco In Town" tour in the United Kingdom in May 2007.
The ladies, together with former member Fayette Pinkney, received various honors during 2007 and 2008, through BIMA and the City of Philadelphia, for their contribution to music over five decades. The four ladies appeared together to receive these awards, creating, for the first time ever, The Four Degrees.
Lineup Chronology
Members
Helen Scott (1963-1966)
Valerie Holiday (1967-present)
Helen Scott1 (1976-present)
Cynthia Garrison (1989-present)
1Helen Scott rejoined the group in 1976 after a 10-year break
Ex-members
Fayette Pinkney (1963-1976)
Linda Turner (1963)
Shirley Porter (1963)
Janet Harmon (1964-1967)
Sheila Ferguson (1966-1986)
Sandra Tucker (1967)
Vera Brown (1986-1987)
Rhea Harris (1987-1988)
Victoria Wallace (1988-1989)
Collage
The Three Degrees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the ground, feeling down
That could be most any day
Green for the eyes, take a look around
When the sun goes down
And the sun goes down in the strangest way
Red for the light, gotta stop this thing
That I meant to say
I meant to say
Green for the lives that are dry like the world
Never see the good that's done the bad
It's too late to see
Two of us make it easier
To read the signs, memorize the lines
Won't you stay with me?
One for the road, I'll be on my way
Come another day when the things we say
Find a way to be
A way to be
Autumn calls for a change of year
Bringing winter near, oh I scream "The ground
And the skies are fine"
Wintertime is a razor blade
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
For the summertime
Spring days come and it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
It's a nursery rhyme
A nursery rhyme
The Three Degrees's song Collage is a poetic exploration of emotion and perception. The use of color throughout the song suggests that each color represents a different aspect of life. Blue represents sadness, Green represents the natural world, and Red symbolizes passion. The lyrics express a sense of confusion and dissatisfaction that comes from experiencing life's highs and lows. The singer is searching for a way to express themselves, to find a song or words that will capture the full range of their emotions.
The song shifts between different seasons and emotions, highlighting the cyclical nature of life. Autumn represents change, while winter is a time of sharpness and danger. Spring is a time of growth and renewal, but it's also a time of confusion and uncertainty. The singer seems to be searching for meaning, trying to find a way to make sense of the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue for the blue I feel when I'm feeling down
The color blue symbolizes the melancholy and sadness I feel on days I am feeling low and under the weather.
In the ground, feeling down
I'm feeling so low that it feels like I'm buried in the ground.
That could be most any day
This feeling of sadness could occur on any given day.
Green for the eyes, take a look around
The color green symbolizes the eyes and encourages one to look around and see the world.
When the sun goes down
This happens most notably when the sun sets.
And the sun goes down in the strangest way
The sunset sometimes feels peculiar and inexplicable.
Red for the light, gotta stop this thing
The color red symbolizes the light that signals to stop or pause something.
Find a song to sing that is everything
I must find a song that truly encompasses everything I meant to say.
That I meant to say
This song needs to convey all the sentiments that I want to express.
Green for the lives that are dry like the world
The color green symbolizes dryness and represents the people in this world who can't appreciate when good is done because of their negative outlook.
Never see the good that's done the bad
These people refuse to see the positive even when it is there, and only see the bad.
It's too late to see
Their pessimistic nature has blinded them so much that they cannot see the good that can be done anymore.
Two of us make it easier
Things are easier to do when two people work together.
To read the signs, memorize the lines
Together, we can learn from experience, read signs, and memorize key information.
Won't you stay with me?
Will you pledge to stay with me and always work as a team, so we may progress together.
One for the road, I'll be on my way
This is an ode to leaving one path and progressing to another.
Come another day when the things we say
We will once again have our chance to convey what we want to say.
Find a way to be
Together we will strive to find a way to be.
Autumn calls for a change of year
The season of autumn represents the start of a new year, just like the start of a new school year.
Bringing winter near, oh I scream 'The ground
Winter's coming, and with it comes the chilling temperature, which can be unpleasant.
And the skies are fine'
Despite the cold, the sky is still blue and beautiful.
Wintertime is a razor blade
The winter brings many harsh elements that cut through the skin like a razor blade.
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
The pains of winter represent a cost we must pay every year, and the devil who made it symbolizes how it is not an act of god but rather something harsh.
For the summertime
This is a reference to the cycle of seasons where in order to enjoy spring days and the summertime, we must first endure winter.
Spring days come and it's hard to know
It can be hard to appreciate the beauty of the spring season.
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
We can't always explain where things come from or where they go.
It's a nursery rhyme
Just as a nursery rhyme is something that is difficult to explain, so are some elements of life.
Lyrics ยฉ Warner Music India Private Limited, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSEPH F. WALSH, PATRICK CULLIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dory Ann
Lyrics:
Blue for the blue, I feel
What I'm feeling down in the ground
Feeling down I can be most any day
Green for the ice, take a look around
When the sun goes down
And the sun goes down in the strangest way
Red for the light, gotta stop this thing
Find a song to sing that is everything
That I meant to say, I meant to say
Green for the mice and I drawn like the world
Never see the good that's down the bad
It's too late to see
The two of us make it easier
To read the signs, memorize the lines
Won't you stay with me?
One for the road, I'll be on my way
Come another day when the things we say
Find a way to be, a way to be
[Instrumental interlude]
Autumn calls for a change of year
Bringing winter near while spring's the ground
And the skies are fine
Wintertime is a razor blade
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
For the summertime
Spring day's come then it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
It's a nursury rhyme, a nursury rhyme
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhhhh...
Rolls-Royce owner
"Blue for the blue I feel when I'm feeling down
In the ground, feeling down
That could be most any day"
"Green for the eyes, take a look around
When the sun goes down
And the sun goes down in the strangest way "
"Red for the light, gotta stop this thing
Find a song to sing that is everything
That I meant to say -
I meant to say "
"Green for the lives that are dry like the world
Never see the good that's done the bad
It's too late to see "
"Two of us make it easier
To read the signs, memorize the lines
Won't you stay with me? "
"One for the road, I'll be on my way
Come another day when the things we say
Find a way to be
A way to be..."
"Autumn calls for a change of year
Bringing winter near, oh I scream "The ground
And the skies are fine"
"Wintertime is a razor blade
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
For the summertime "
"Spring days come and it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
It's a nursery rhyme
A nursery rhyme..."
Dory Ann
Lyrics:
Blue for the blue, I feel
What I'm feeling down in the ground
Feeling down I can be most any day
Green for the ice, take a look around
When the sun goes down
And the sun goes down in the strangest way
Red for the light, gotta stop this thing
Find a song to sing that is everything
That I meant to say, I meant to say
Green for the mice and I drawn like the world
Never see the good that's down the bad
It's too late to see
The two of us make it easier
To read the signs, memorize the lines
Won't you stay with me?
One for the road, I'll be on my way
Come another day when the things we say
Find a way to be, a way to be
[Instrumental interlude]
Autumn calls for a change of year
Bringing winter near while spring's the ground
And the skies are fine
Wintertime is a razor blade
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
For the summertime
Spring day's come then it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
It's a nursury rhyme, a nursury rhyme
Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhhhh...
Rolls-Royce owner
"Blue for the blue I feel when I'm feeling down
In the ground, feeling down
That could be most any day"
"Green for the eyes, take a look around
When the sun goes down
And the sun goes down in the strangest way "
"Red for the light, gotta stop this thing
Find a song to sing that is everything
That I meant to say -
I meant to say "
"Green for the lives that are dry like the world
Never see the good that's done the bad
It's too late to see "
"Two of us make it easier
To read the signs, memorize the lines
Won't you stay with me? "
"One for the road, I'll be on my way
Come another day when the things we say
Find a way to be
A way to be..."
"Autumn calls for a change of year
Bringing winter near, oh I scream "The ground
And the skies are fine"
"Wintertime is a razor blade
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
For the summertime "
"Spring days come and it's hard to know
Where the rain comes from, where the children go
It's a nursery rhyme
A nursery rhyme..."
stuartk125
What a mega take on Joe Walsh's brilliant original, awesome version
mark childs
Heard this track on the Birds of Prey film itโs an old James Gang Joe Walsh classic song and i love it .
SackOfSoulTube
What a superb tune.
Remoteflpr
I actually miss the pops coming from the record player just before the song starts. We don't have a record player anymore but we still have a bunch of old vinyls. Those were some good times๐
Tic Toc Melody
FANTASTIC cover version.
Cruzita Estevez
this song is soooo goood!! i'm actually surprised as to how under-appreciated it is
dreamyblue44
total classic vintage 1970 soul!
Andrea Drever
Just heard this on KCRW, blew me away, wow!